SAR orders 33 locomotives, 782 freight cars

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has signed agreements with Alstom, Progress Rail and Greenbrier to strengthen its freight operations under the Kingdom’s Phosphate 3 expansion project. The deals cover 33 new locomotives, 782 freight cars and maintenance services, helping increase rail freight capacity and improve the movement of minerals to processing facilities and export points.

The agreements were signed during InnoTrans, the international transport technology trade fair in Berlin. Greenbrier will design, manufacture and supply the freight cars, while Progress Rail will provide the locomotives.

SAR has also signed a €22 million ($26 million) five-year contract with Alstom to maintain critical onboard systems across its North Freight fleet.

Mohamed Khalil, Alstom’s Managing Director for the Middle East, said, “Our partnership with SAR is built on a shared ambition to strengthen rail performance and support the Kingdom’s long-term transport objectives.”

SAR’s North-South corridor currently carries around 13.5 million tonnes of freight annually, connecting mining sites with processing facilities and export points.

The new agreements will support Saudi Arabia’s plans to expand mineral transport, improve fleet reliability and strengthen rail freight operations. They also align with the Kingdom’s five new logistics corridors aimed at improving supply chain efficiency under Vision 2030.